3 free agents the Chicago Bears should sign in the offseason

Jonathan Greenard

Jonathan Greenard may not seem like a prized offseason pickup, but if he does reach the open market, he will surely be a team's big-ticket free agent signing this offseason. Some people will be shocked at his hefty price tag when it's announced, but the fanbase of whichever team lands him will be thrilled with the outcome.

Greenard is a rapidly ascending player coming off a career-high 12.5 sacks (in 15 games). While it may seem like he came out of nowhere this year, that is not really the case. The 2020 third-round selection was on a similar trajectory in his sophomore season (he had eight sacks in 13 games) before being slowed by injuries in 2022.

While this year's crop of free agents features an elite group of pass-rushers, there is reason to believe Greenard might be the most well-rounded of the bunch (on top of being the best fit for the Bears' defense). Brian Burns and Josh Allen are the flashier names, but they are much better against the pass than they are against the run. Meanwhile, Greenard is equally impressive on both fronts. When you factor in the fact that he will surely sign for less than both of them, the thought of breaking the bank on him becomes all the more appealing.

Greenard is someone the Texans would definitely like to bring back (they do have the second-most cap space in the league), but if they are unable to do so, the Bears would be wise to do everything in their power to get him in the building. They will have to pay up for him, but he is worth every penny. The 26-year-old would not only be a great compliment to Montez Sweat, but he would also provide one of the final pieces to make the Bears defense one of the league's most feared units in the league.